~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter five: Messages From Home

"I - uh - I don't know what it could be," she said standing quickly. As Cali walked swiftly out of the room with the others following her, she muttered under her breath, "I wonder if my disk player was bumped and accidentally turned on." 'You know,' her mind told her, 'this could be a very bad thing if these Elves caught sight of your stuff. They would probably think even your wristwatch was from Hell or something.' As Cali neared 'her' chamber, she could hear a faint beeping noise coming from one of the bags that were still sitting on the bed. Cali first threw open the bag containing her clothes, ignoring the Elves who had gathered around her. Not discovering what made the noise, Cali moved on to the next bag. Feeling around, her hand suddenly swept across a firm leather case. Narrowing her eyes, Cali pulled the rectangular case out of her bag, causing the faint beeping noise to grow a bit louder than before, but still muffled. 'How in the world did they get this in here without me noticing?' She then noticed a note pinned on the case. It was a note from her friends.

Dear Cali,
We know that you would have kicked yourself once you've realized that you left this at home, so we just packed it up for you. We also included several of those prototype batteries Cora's father was working on. You remember, the ones you can recharge in direct sunlight (takes four hours) and last up to a month? We're sure you'll make use of them; we gave you three plus the one we stuck in. Hope you're not mad at us! Oh, we also turned on the alert . thingy. That way it will beep every time you have e- mail or someone wants to talk to you through instant messaging.
Love,
~Leanna, Jenae, Sida, & Cora~ PS: While you weren't looking, we placed several extra . goodies . in your bag we thought you might like to have. Have fun!

Cali shook her head and smiled slightly. She wasn't surprise in the least; her friends would do something like this. It was then that she realized the Elves standing around her. If she revealed her laptop, it would send her proposed history packing. She couldn't let them know that she was from another dimension. Then she got an idea. Slipping her hand inside the case, Cali felt around for the battery case. Once finding it, she managed to open it and slide part of the batteries out, successfully stopping the beeping. Cali turned slowly until she was facing the Elves, a sheepish grin on her face.

"What was that noise? And what was the thing which was making it?" asked Legolas.

Cali shut her eyes and rubbed her neck. This was hard, she didn't want to lie to them, but how was she going to explain a computer to them? "I - uh - um - it was -"

"If you don't want to tell us now, that is fine," said King Thranduil, coming to Cali's aid. Cali let out the breath she was holding; she nodded her thanks. Placing his hand on his wife's shoulder, Legolas's father began to lead them out of the room but Cali stayed behind. Thranduil looked back at her. "Are you not coming Lady Cali?"

Cali shook her head. "No thank you, your Majesty. I don't have much of an appetite this evening."

He nodded. "Very well. I will bid you good night then. Quel esta (rest well), Lady Cali."

"Um, good night," Cali answered. The others bade her good night and left as well. As soon as they were gone, Cali let out a heavy sigh and fell onto the bed. Reaching over, she drew her laptop out from its case and placed the battery back in its case. She turned it on and shoved her clothing back in her bag as she waited for it to power up. As quickly as she could, Cali opened her e-mail account and scanned her messages. She had a few old ones from a few days ago, but there was a new one. Cali couldn't understand it. Here she was in another world that didn't even have electricity, and she was getting e-mails. It couldn't, shouldn't be possible. She then looked at the sender's address; it was from Sida, sent under an hour ago. Cali opened it and scanned the message.

CALI!!!! Where are you? Everyone is worried sick about you! Leanna said you had gone for a ride in the forest, but you never returned. Now I'm seriously glad we snuck your laptop into your bags. If you get this, please, send us a message, or something! We need to know you're alright.
~Sida~

Cali sighed and shook her head. 'Right. Now I know I'm dreaming. There is no way I could have gotten this if this was the real word. There's no connection to the Internet. ' She stared at the note, reading it over and over again. 'But if this is a dream, then I can send a note back. I think. This had so better be a dream.' Opening a fresh page, Cali began to type rapidly.

Sida,
I can't really tell you where I am because I don't know. I don't know how I came to be here, nor do I know how I will get home. I will though, ask the people who found me if there is someone here who can help. Tell my parents that I'm fine, there is no need to worry.
~Cali~

Cali's finger hovered over the send button, afraid that if she sent it, her fears would come true and it wouldn't go through to her world. Gathering her confidence, she pressed the send button and fell back onto the bed. She released a deep sigh and looked out her window. Cali rolled off the bed and walked to the balcony. A warm breeze was blowing and she smiled. Looking to her left, Cali saw the sun setting. The sky was a mix of orange and pink, and the clouds had bright purple shadows. The sun was setting behind a long range of mountains, casting long shadows everywhere. Suddenly hearing sounds coming from below her, Cali leaned against the railing and gazed down at the scene below her. Her balcony was situated near some sort of weapons range. There were Elves practicing their skills with archery and others sparring with swords and long, wooden staffs. To the left of the archery area was a dirt arena where some Elves where working with their horses. Cali noted briefly that all the horses were either white or a light gray; not one had a dark coat. Looking back to where some were working with the staffs, Cali could see Déorwin and Legolas sparring against each other. Neither was losing, nor was either winning. Then Legolas suddenly looked in her direction, their gaze locking. In that split-second of distraction, Déorwin slipped the end of his staff behind Legolas's legs, tripping him, and causing him to fall hard on his back. Cali gave the dark haired Elf a thumbs up, smiling faintly, but it quickly faded as she walked away.

She then headed back to the bed where her laptop sat, and turned it off, not bothering to see if her message came through. She slipped it back in its case and set the machine on the desk. Cali then proceeded to change into something more comfortable. After slipping on a pair of dark red flannel pants and a white tank top, Cali set her bags in the armoire and walked into the washroom. She noticed a clay basin of water on a stone table under the mirror. Apparently some of the servants placed the basin of water on the table just after she had left for dinner. She washed her face and wiped down her arms and legs then settled herself on the bed with a book and her cd player. She pressed play and quietly sang along with the music.

~"One day, one night, one moment, My dreams could be, tomorrow. One step, one fall, one falter, East or West, over earth or by ocean. One way to be my journey, This way could be my book of days."~

Sooner than she hoped Cali was lulled to sleep, her music still playing.

-----------------------------

After leaving Cali's room, Legolas realized he was no longer hungry. He was so confused by her actions that day, he didn't know how to react. Shaking his head, Legolas turned to Déorwin and suggested they get some light sparring done while it was still light outside. Once at the training grounds, the two male Elves stretched their muscles before picking up their staffs and turning to face each other. "Hey, Déorwin?" Legolas asked as he blocked an attack. "What do you think that thing was in Lady Cali's chamber that was making that noise? Do you suppose it could have been a pet of some kind she kept hidden?"

Déorwin shrugged and sidestepped a swing from Legolas's staff. "I don't think it could have been an animal. The thing was too flat and too still to have been alive. Why don't you go ask her in the morning? Maybe she'll tell you."

Legolas shook his head. "No. I don't want to make her any more uncomfortable and uneasy than she already is."

The dark haired elf stopped in mid swing and straightened. A mischievous smile crept across his lips as he titled his head to the side. "Legolas. Are you getting shy?" Grinning, he ducked as his opponent's staff came toward his head. Déorwin smiled and engaged back in combat. Suddenly, Legolas stopped his attacks and lifted his head toward the palace. Déorwin took this opportunity to slip the end of his staff behind Legolas's knees. He then flicked it forward, causing the blonde elf's knees to buckle, making him fall hard on his back.

"Oomph!" Legolas grunted as his breath was knocked out of him.

Laughing, Déorwin turned and looked to see what had caught his Prince's gaze. On a balcony overlooking the grounds was the she-Elf, Calithradë. She was laughing and shaking her head. She then raised a fist in the air with her thumb sticking out. Déorwin was confused as to what this gesture meant, but smiled and waved back. The Lady Calithradë waved back to him as well and turned to go back inside her room. Déorwin continued to laugh as his gaze returned to rest on his fallen friend. "I never thought I would see the day when you were distracted during a spar by a female, Legolas. And one you met only today, no less."

Legolas rolled his blue eyes and picked himself up off the ground. His face grew serious. "And you shall not see it happen again, mellon." He picked up his staff and held the weapon in front of him. "Are we going to continue, or do you still wish to annoy me with your tauntings?" he asked.

Déorwin's smile faded and he nodded, slipping back into a defensive position. "As you wish, my Prince." The Prince of Mirkwood nodded back and they continued to spar until the sun at last disappeared over the mountains and darkness settled over the land.

----------------------------------------

Sida tapped her foot impatiently against the stage floor and glanced at her watch. The noon show was to start in twenty minutes and Cali had yet to return. Leanna had told her that Cali left for a ride in the woods and would come back in an hour or so. But three hours passed and there was no sign of her. Sida was becoming worried.

At the sound of footsteps echoing off the wooden floor, Sida raised her head in hopes the footsteps belonged to Cali. It was Ryan and a few of the other young men. Ryan looked at her with solemn eyes. "Has she returned?" Sida asked him.

He shook his head. "No she hasn't. And her parents have been looking for her." Sida nodded and turned to face the forest. Stepping up to her side, Ryan asked, "Do you think we should send some people out to look for her?"

The black-haired female walked forward and sat with her feet hanging over the edge of the stage. Ryan sat beside her. "I don't know Ryan. I mean, this isn't totally unlike Cali. She's known to disappear into the forest for hours at a time; sometimes all daylong. I know I shouldn't be worried about her, but I can't help feeling like she's in danger of some kind. Wherever she is, she's in trouble." As she sighed, Sida looked out over the grounds and as children ran around and other fair-goers enjoyed themselves, she smiled. She looked back at Ryan. "Ryan, can you still do the show without her?" He nodded.

"Yeah sure. I can get one of the other girls to do it." Sida nodded her head in agreement and watched as he stood and left to prepare for the show. Looking back at the crowd, Sida jumped off her perch on the stage and mingled herself among the people.

Several hours passed and Cali still had not returned. Sida was now pacing inside the main tent. Cali's parents had approached her repeatedly throughout the day looking for Cali. The first time they just nodded knowingly - they also know of Cali's tendency to disappear when she wanted to -. But by the third or fourth time, the two adults had become worried and frustrated. Sida and the others repeatedly assured them that as soon as they received word from Cali, they would call them. The fair was winding down and her parents had left several minutes ago still distressed, but slightly comforted by Sida's assurance. Sida stopped pacing as someone entered the tent and called her name.

"Sida." It was Cora.

Sida smiled half-heartedly. "Any word?"

Cora shook her head. "No. Ryan and the others should be back any minute now, though." She looked out of the tent entrance and to the forest. "I hope they find some trace of her." It was then that Jenae and Leanna suddenly burst into the tent.

"Guys!" cried Jenae. "I just developed a crazy idea but it might work!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Sida.

"Well," said Leanna. "When Cali left for her ride, one of the stable boys mentioned she had taken her saddle bags with her. And as far as I know, she hadn't unpacked them yet. But he also mentioned that she had a nice array of weapons with her. I wonder what she was doing with those." The last part was muttered more to herself on confusion.

After a moment of silence, realization dawned in the other girls' eyes. "The laptop! We snuck her laptop in one of her saddle bags back at the house," Sida realized. She rushed to her own bags in a corner of the tent and pulled out a flat, black computer. "Thank the gods we live in the twenty-first century." Computer in hand, the four girls sprinted across the fair grounds to the nearest house, which happened to belong to Cora. Ryan and some of the other men who had left to search for Cali were walking down the road as the four girls ran past them. He looked after them and with a nod from one of the men, followed the four females.

"Hey, Sida! Wait up!" he called.

Sida stopped and turned. She smiled when she saw him. "Did you find anything?" she asked as they caught up with the others.

"Well, we found something," he said. "I'll show you when we get to wherever you're going." Sida nodded. Soon they reached Cora's home and the five dashed inside. Cora slid into the seat in front of the computer and switched it on. "What are you doing?" Ryan asked, confused as to why they were using a computer.

"Cali has her laptop with her," Sida explained. "While we were packing her things, we snuck her laptop into one of her bags when she wasn't looking. We can send her an e-mail."

Ryan raised an eyebrow in unbelief. "But she's lost in a forest or who else knows where. I seriously doubt she has connection to the internet, wherever she is. So tell me, how then are you supposed to send her an e- mail?"

Cora just smiled and allowed Sida to take her place at the computer. "That's easy. You know how my father works at Hamersfield Technology, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, a couple of years ago my father's boss gave Cali a laptop as payment for helping settle a dispute between their company and a rival one the previous summer and-"

"Even though Cali claims she didn't do a thing except throw out her usual sarcasm," interrupted Jenae.

Cora rolled her eyes and continued. "-and to test their newest product."

"Product?"

"Yeah. The laptop has a built in satellite allowing the user access to the internet and have the ability to send e-mail."

"Oh," was all Ryan said.

"There," said Sida suddenly. "Let's hope she gets it." Then looking at Ryan she asked, "Ryan, you said you guys had found something during your search."

"Oh, right." He dug into the bag at his side and withdrew a ring with a black jewel. "We found this in a clearing next to some hoof prints. I don't know if Cali owned something like this, but it was all we found." He handed the ring to Leanna who studied it, turning it over and over in her hands. Suddenly her eyes lit up.

"I remember something. This morning when Cali returned from exploring the faire, I noticed she had a black ring on her finger. I just assumed it was something she bought along with the weapons she had with her. I didn't think anything else of it."

Jenae seemed to be thinking hard as well. "Leanna, those weapons she had. Did they consist of a bow, sword, arrows, and two long knives?"

Leanna nodded. "Yeah, they did. Gorgeous things they were. Why do you ask?"

"When I stopped by the blacksmith's to see if he had anything to donate for the volunteer's drawing, he was examining a small pouch filled with gold coins and jewels. When I asked him where they came from, he mentioned that an old man gave them to him as payment for a set of Mystic weaponry he had had on display. Apparently the old man purchased the weapons for a young lady with brown and in a green dress. 'Looked very mystic herself' he said. It had to Cali."

"Did the blacksmith know who the old man was?" Cora asked.

Jenae shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't think to ask. Sorry."

Sida put a hand on Jenae's shoulder. "It's alright. We can go talk to the blacksmith again in the morning. Maybe he'll remember what the old man looked like." The others nodded and began discussing other reasons for Cali's disappearance.

The group had been talking for several minutes when a beep sounded, startling them. A message box had appeared on the computer screen, alerting them to incoming mail. They all stared at each other, silent. Sida turned in the chair to face the screen. She moved the mouse to the 'receive' button. Her hand hovered over the mouse, unsure of what to do.

"Do it Sida," said Ryan. All held their breath as Sida clicked 'receive'. A message appeared on the screen. "Who's 'Highlander'?" Ryan asked pointing to the sender's name.

"It's Cali," replied Sida. "That's her alias on the Net." She smiled as she opened the letter. "She must have gotten our message."

"Read it out loud," said Cora.

"Alright. 'Sida, I can't really tell you where I am because I don't know. I don't know how I came to be here, nor do I know how I will get home. I will though, ask the people who found me if there is someone here who can help. Tell my parents that I'm fine, there is no need to worry. ~Cali~'" Sida finished and looked up at the others. "At least we know she's safe," she said.

"We just have no idea where she is or how to get to her," said Leanna.

"Yeah, but Cali has not idea where she is or how she got there either," replied Sida.

Ryan shifted and held out the ring. "Send her another note. Ask her about the ring and the old man who bought her those weapons this morning." Nodding, Sida turned and typed a reply.

"Done," she said a few minutes later. "All we can do now is wait for her to reply."

Leanna shook her head. "Yeah. If she replies." When the others looked at her with glances mixed with worry and confusion, she just shrugged her shoulders. "I'm serious. For all we know Cali's computer could get damaged and then she'll have no way to talk to us."

Cora protested. "But it's one of the best out there! It's top-line. I mean, it's built to be protect-"

"It doesn't matter Cora," Leanna interrupted. "It's still a computer and computers break. Besides, she is not going to be able to use those solar batteries forever." The group was silent. No one said anything for a long while. They were all mulling over what was said. What were they going to do?

Soon Jenae broke the silence by saying, "Guys, what are we going to tell Cali's parents?"

"Nothing," said Sida. "We won't tell them anything until we hear from Cali again." Sida stood and led the way to the front door. "Come on, let's get back to the fair area. There are still things that need to be done before the evening ends." With that said, the others stood and followed her out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~